After the success of his fourth album, 2010’s Black City, Dear isn’t taking a rest and re-cooperating. Instead, he’s releasing this EP, touring, and preparing his fifth full-length, Beams, due out sometime this year.

‘In the Middle (I Met You There)’ marks Dear’s first duet, with Jonny Pierce from The Drums. The sample that runs throughout reminded me of Oneohtrix Point Never (and I was expecting his song ‘Up’ to burst through at any moment). Pierce dominates most of the song, with Dear only adding his vocals during the last minute or so. Their voices are high and low, uneasy and assertive, complimenting each other well, and all in all it’s a successful duet.

The mesh of artists that are brought to mind while listening to this EP is astounding. As well as Oneohtrix Point Never, I was also reminded of Janelle Monáe — two artists I certainly wouldn’t have put in the same sentence! Dear seems able to pull from so much around him and yet still create inspired, fresh work.

The final track, ‘Around a Fountain’, is like Prince Rama slowed down. The wails and cries throughout the song are aided the lyrics: “You don’t need to hear the truth / ‘Cause darling, the truth can handle you”. It provides a fitting yet melancholic end to the EP, which is mostly reflective. ‘Headcage’ itself is upbeat, and has similarities to the Black City track ‘Slowdance’ — both have chopped vocal intros. Having played both those tracks to death, it’s interesting to hear songs at a different tempo that still retain Dear’s signature sounds. The frankness that comes across in the lyrics is particularly interesting, considering that the music is so carefully manipulated.

Although Headcage will be the only song to feature on upcoming full-length Beams, the EP is still a satisfying introduction. Ghostly has also featured a teaser video for ‘Headcage’, full of gauzy flashing images, which you can watch below.